Lopez, Johnson lead short-handed Nets by Nuggets

NEW YORK — The unofficial first half of the Nets' first season in Brooklyn has been strange, and somewhat tumultuous. It's hard to argue, however, that it has been anything but successful.

Comment

By Andy Vasquez

recordonline.com

By Andy Vasquez

Posted Feb. 14, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By Andy Vasquez
Posted Feb. 14, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

NEW YORK — The unofficial first half of the Nets' first season in Brooklyn has been strange, and somewhat tumultuous. It's hard to argue, however, that it has been anything but successful.

The Nets made that case stronger on Wednesday night with an impressive 119-108 win over Denver.

The Nets were playing without Deron Williams, and playing a Nuggets team that had won nine of its last 11. Brooklyn offset all that with a total team effort: Brook Lopez, headed to his first All-Star Game in Houston this weekend, finished with 23 points and eight rebounds; Joe Johnson had 26 points and nine assists; and C.J. Watson had 25 points and six assists.

The Nets pulled away with a furious midgame rally — and withstood a late Denver charge — giving them plenty to feel good about.

With the win, the Nets head into the All-Star break with plenty to feel good about. Their 31-22 record is their best at the break since 2004.

The last time the Nets played at Barclays Center — a 25-point loss to San Antonio on Sunday night — they were booed off the court. But as the final seconds ticked off the clock, Nets fans rose to their feet and gave the home team a standing ovation.

For the second straight game, playing without their star point guard didn't seem to bother the Nets offense. Williams is out until after the All-Star break after being treated for inflammation in both ankles earlier this week. On Monday against the Pacers, it was rookie guard Tyshawn Taylor that came up clutch to lead the Nets to the overtime victory.

On this night in Brooklyn, every Net seemed to find a way to contribute. Watson, who filled in for Williams as the starter, set the tone in the first quarter with five points and three assists.

The Nets entered Wednesday's game losers of six of their last 10, a slump that had been punctuated by dismal offensive output in the second and third quarters.

But against Denver, the Nets accelerated through the middle of the game, outscoring the Nuggets, 72-55.

It's part of the inconsistency that has defined the Nets'™ first half of the season. Only 72 hours before, they had been embarrassed by the Spurs in Brooklyn. Now the Nets were running away with a game against one of the NBA's hottest teams.

"I just think we've been a little uneven," interim coach P.J. Carlesimo said before the game. "I think we're just a little hard to figure at this point, I don't think we've settled into what we are. And we may not. Maybe this is what we are."

The Nets are indeed talented, more talented than they've been since they were perennial contender a decade ago. But they're also maddeningly inconsistent at times. Once again, that was on display against the Nuggets.